Computing constructs by using typical testor algorithms

Abstract

In their classic form, reducts as well as typical testors areminimal subsets of attributes that retain the discernibility condition. Constructs are a special type of reducts and represent a kind of generalization of the reduct concept. A construct reliably provides sufficient amount of discrimination between objects belonging to different classes as well as sufficient amount of resemblance between objects belonging to the same class. Based on the relation between constructs, reducts and typical testors this paper focuses on a practical use of this relation. Specifically, we propose a method that allows applying typical testor algorithms for computing constructs. The proposed method involves modifying the classic definition of pairwise object comparison matrix adapting it to the requirements of certain algorithms originally designed to compute typical testors. The usefulness of our method is shown through some examples.